Garment creasing device



Sept. 12, 1961 H. THORNE 2,999,619

GARMENT CREASING DEVICE Filed Jan. 7, 1959 PRESS INVENTOR HAROLD T HORNEATTORNEYS United States Patent OfiFice 2,999,619 GARMENT CREASING DEVICEHarold Thorne, Downingtown, Pa., assignor to Gordon Samuel Lexton,Downingtown, Pa. Filed Jan. 7, 1959, Ser. No. 785,474 4 Claims. (Cl.223-74) The present invention relates to a garment creasing device thatis adapted to maintain the garment in a neat and unwrinkled conditionwhen the garment is packed in luggage, and which additionally serves asa hanger means for the garment when the garment is removed from theluggage. While the invention is illustrated and described in connectionwith a creasing device for mens trousers, it is, of course, to beunderstood that the invention is not thus restricted, and can beemployed with equal facility with other types of garments.

To accomplish the salient object of the invention, the device broadlycomprises a pair of similarly spaced components, each component beingadapted to cooperate with a crease in the trousers, linkage meansinterconnected to each spaced component adapted to move such componentstoward and away from each other, and resilient means operably associatedwith the linkage means, normally maintaining the spaced components awayfrom each other, yet permitting such components to be moved toward eachother upon moving one of the ends of said components toward each other.

More specifically, each spaced component includes an elongated slottherein in proximity to one of the ends thereof, and the linkage meansincluding a pair of crossed elements, each being pivotally connected atone end to the end of each spaced component remote from the elongatedslot, the opposite end of each element having a connection mounted forlongitudinal movement in the respective elongated slots, the cross-overpoint of each element including a lost-motion slot, and a connectionmovable in the lost-motion slot, and a pair of resilient bands securedto the elements on opposite sides of the cross-over point, with suchbands normally holding the spaced components away from each other.

It is also possible, if desired, to lock the spaced components in theirposition in proximity to each other by means of an off-set slot mergingwith the elongated slot of one of the spaced components.

It is obvious that when used for trousers or the like, two devices arenecessary, one for each leg.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become moreapparent to one skilled in the art from a study of the followingdescription and the annexed drawings illustrating a preferred embodimentof the invention, and in which drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a trouser creasing deviceembodying the present invention, with the device being shown in theextended position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the press in theretracted position;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2, withthe view looking in the direction of the arrows and being on a slightlyenlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a view generally similar to FIGURE 1, showing the device inposition in a trouser leg, and

FIGURE 5 is a fragmental elevational view of a modified form of theinvention, showing the means for looking the device.

The trouser creasing device which is identified generally includes apair of complementary, elongated components 11 and 12, made of aninexpensive, flexible material, such as cardboard or other fibrousmaterial, and each of the components 11 and 12 is adapted in use to bepositioned in the crease of the trouser leg. Pivotally connected to eachof the components 11 and 12 in proximity to one of the ends thereof is alink member 13 of similar material, and such pivot connection isindicated at 14. The link members are crossed over toward each other,the connectors 17 can slide from the upper ends of the slots 18 and 19to the lower ends, thereby bringing the components 11 and 12 closer toeach other. In order to normally maintain the components 11 and 12 inthe position shown in FIGURE 1, a pair of resilient means such as rubberbands 20 pass about the link members 13 on opposite sides of thecross-over point. These bands may be fitted in recesses 21, formed inthe outer edges of the respective link members to prevent displacementof the bands 20. Obviously, when pressure is released from the ends ofthe components 11 and 12 adjacent the pivot points 14, the bands willforce the assembly to the extended position illustrated in FIGURE 1.

While the use of the device is believed readily apparent from thedrawing and description, it may be briefly summarized as follows:

To insert the device in the trouser leg, the device is first closed bypressing the upper ends of the components 11 and 12, that is, the endsadjacent the pivots 14, together, and thereafter inserting the thusclosed device into the lower end of the trouser leg. After the devicehas been inserted, the device is released, whereupon the bands 20 willurge the components 11 and 12 apart to exert a pressure at diametricallyopposite points of the trouser leg. The trouser leg can then beadjusted, so that the components 11 and 12 are in proper alignment withthe creases, after which the device will maintain the trouser leg in thedesired position.

In view of the fact that the components 11 and 12 are of such length asnot to extend a material distance above the cuif, the trousers can beeasily folded for packing in luggage, with the device preventingwrinkling or the like of the trousers.

After the garment has been removed from the luggage, and to permit thedevice to also function as a hanger, it will be seen that a cord loop orthe like 22a is attached to the link members 13, as indicated at 22, andby passing the loop over the hook of a conventional coat hanger, or doorhanger, or the like, the trousers can be suspended.

To remove each device from the trouser leg, it is merely necessary topress the upper ends together, thereby allowing the trousers to be sliddown the spaced components 11 and 12.

Under certain circumstances, it may be desirable to lock the device inthe trouser-inserting position, and to accomplish this end, the lowerend of the slot 18 is provided with a right-angled, off-set 24, in whichthe connector 17 enters when the components are moved toward each other.To release the lock, the component 11 is moved outwardly, therebydisengaging the connector 17 from the off-set 24, thereby enabling eachconnector 17 to slide upwardly in the elongated slots by virtue of thebands 20.

While the creasing device is preferably formed of inexpensive, fibrousmaterial, it is, of course, to be understood that other materials suchas metals or plastics may be employed, and spring means other thanrubber bands can be used.

The device includes few essential working parts, is posi- Patented Sept.12, 1961 3 tive and eflicient in operation, and can easily be manufactured.

The invention is not to be confined to any strict conformity with theshowings in the drawings, but changes or modifications may be madetherein, so long as such changes or modifications mark no materialdeparture from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A garment creasing device, particularly a device for use withtrousers, comprising a pair of spaced apart substantially rigidcomponents adapted to be inserted into a trouser leg, a pair of linkmembers arranged in crossed-over relationship with one end of eachmember being pivotally connected to one end of each of said components,the other end of each link member being mounted for longitudinal slidingmovement between uppermost and lowermost positions in an elongated slotprovided in each component in spaced relation to said pivot connections,a lost motion connection between said link members in proximity to theircross-over point, and resilient means operably connecting said linkmembers between the cross-over point end each component normally urgingsaid link members to their uppermost position in said elongated slots tohold the spaced components away from each other, yet upon pressing thecomponents together adjacent said pivotal connections, the resilientmeans allow the other ends of said link members to move to the lowermostposition in the elongated slots to move the spaced components towardeach other thereby permitting the device to be inserted in the trouserleg, and

upon release of said components, the resilient means moves the linkmembers towards the uppermost position in the slots so that the spacedcomponents stretch the trousers.

2. A garment creasing device as claimed in claim 1, in which saidresilient means are rubber bands with the bands being disposed incut-out areas provided in the link members.

3. A garment creasing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least thelower end of one of said elongated slots is provided with aperpendicularly extending olf-set, and the other end of the link memberhaving a connector adapted to be moved into such offset to hold thecomponents in a position towards each other.

4. A garment creasing device as claimed in claim 1, further including aloop means connected to the link members in proximity to their pivotalconnections to the spaced components for serving as a hanger means forthe device.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS379,118 McLaughlin Mar. 6, 1888 1,955,995 Wood Apr. 24, 1934 2,393,632Hartz Jan. 29, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 291,490 Great Britain June 5, 1928788,476 Great Britain J an. 2, 1958

